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The Ghosts of Varner Creek
In the summer of 1909, Solomon Mayfield awoke to find his mother and sister had disappeared. Left with his alcoholic and abusive father, Sol lived his life believing the story he'd been told, the story all the people of Varner Creek believed about what happened that summer. But in a plot of twists and family secrets that will leave the reader reaching for their jaw upon the floor, Sol is taken back to his childhood by the spirits he knew in life when he passes away so many years later . . . it is only then he learns what secrets The Ghosts of Varner Creek have been keeping so many years.
"Very well written . . . this debut novel is a real page turner with some very interesting characters."-Jani Brooks, Romance Review Today
This was a wonderfully woven story about an American family, their secrets, tragedies, love lost and redeemed. - Goodreads 5 Star Review from Robert Stadnik, author of Exodus Of The Phoenix, Phoenix Among The Stars, and Tales Of A Former Child Superhero.
Terrific book! This story was haunting and chilled me to the core. I couldn't read fast enough to find out what happened to the characters. I was definitely hooked from the very beginning. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a great mystery. - Nook 5 Star Review
Never anything but page-turning . . . I was hooked on this book right from the start. - Dr. Jon P. Bloch, Professor, Author, and Reviewer for The Kindle Book Review, blog website.
"Very well written . . . this debut novel is a real page turner with some very interesting characters."-Jani Brooks, Romance Review Today
This was a wonderfully woven story about an American family, their secrets, tragedies, love lost and redeemed. - Goodreads 5 Star Review from Robert Stadnik, author of Exodus Of The Phoenix, Phoenix Among The Stars, and Tales Of A Former Child Superhero.
Terrific book! This story was haunting and chilled me to the core. I couldn't read fast enough to find out what happened to the characters. I was definitely hooked from the very beginning. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a great mystery. - Nook 5 Star Review
Never anything but page-turning . . . I was hooked on this book right from the start. - Dr. Jon P. Bloch, Professor, Author, and Reviewer for The Kindle Book Review, blog website.
244 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2007
250 people are currently reading
2180 people want to read
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February 4, 2012This book is now available on Kindle as of August, 2011. I hope you enjoy the read. Thanks.
Update 10/14/2011: Amazing! As of last night, and still today, The Ghosts of Varner Creek is on Barnes & Noble Nook's Sci Fi Best Seller list . . . right next to Game of Thrones! Thanks everyone for reading. Very, very cool.
Michael Weems
Update 10/14/2011: Amazing! As of last night, and still today, The Ghosts of Varner Creek is on Barnes & Noble Nook's Sci Fi Best Seller list . . . right next to Game of Thrones! Thanks everyone for reading. Very, very cool.
Michael Weems
February 9, 2012
I stayed up until midnight last night, reading this book. First off, as the author states, it's really not a book about ghosts, although ghosts are involved (and can be scary as heck!). I think this book would make an amazing movie - I could totally see some of these scenes being reenacted with special effects.
The book begins with Solomon, who is 87 years old, waking up to the faceless female ghost who has taken to hanging around his room at the nursing home. He's never had a ghost actually communicate with him yet, so he just ignores them now. He muses on his age, and life, and while walking to his room later that day, sees another patient's granddaughter in a pink tutu, which brings up memories of his autistic sister, Sarah. Rewind back in time to the early 1900s, and Solomon's history unfolds.
I was expecting the time rewind to be a simple flashback, but the actual story in this book takes place in Solomon's childhood. I don't want to include any details for fear of leaving spoilers, but you will be riveted as the mystery unfolds. At the very end, some of the "tied-up" ends are further clarified, which are in turns horrifying and brilliant.
Definitely recommend, however, one of the "loose ends" does turn out to be very disturbing. Although nothing is graphically detailed, you do know exactly what happened.
The book begins with Solomon, who is 87 years old, waking up to the faceless female ghost who has taken to hanging around his room at the nursing home. He's never had a ghost actually communicate with him yet, so he just ignores them now. He muses on his age, and life, and while walking to his room later that day, sees another patient's granddaughter in a pink tutu, which brings up memories of his autistic sister, Sarah. Rewind back in time to the early 1900s, and Solomon's history unfolds.
I was expecting the time rewind to be a simple flashback, but the actual story in this book takes place in Solomon's childhood. I don't want to include any details for fear of leaving spoilers, but you will be riveted as the mystery unfolds. At the very end, some of the "tied-up" ends are further clarified, which are in turns horrifying and brilliant.
Definitely recommend, however, one of the "loose ends" does turn out to be very disturbing. Although nothing is graphically detailed, you do know exactly what happened.
March 9, 2012
I'll be honest. I downloaded the Kindle version of of this book mainly out of curiosity and because I got in on a free download promotion, so the price was right. I like to read and write about ghosts, so the title intrigued me. My expectations weren't very high. You get what you pay for, right? Not in this case. This book would have been a bargain at any price.
Being an avid reader, I run through four to six titles a month. If I had more leisure time, it would be twice that. "The Ghosts of Varner Creek" is the best fiction work I've experienced since Neil Gaiman's "American Gods," which was my first read in January 2012.
The story is beautifully crafted and the characters are well developed and exceptionally believable. In this book, Michael Weems baits his readers, skillfully sets the hook and plays the tension just right while he reels in his catch.
I'm reserving the remainder of my comments because this is a book I intend to review more thoroughly on my blog.
Being an avid reader, I run through four to six titles a month. If I had more leisure time, it would be twice that. "The Ghosts of Varner Creek" is the best fiction work I've experienced since Neil Gaiman's "American Gods," which was my first read in January 2012.
The story is beautifully crafted and the characters are well developed and exceptionally believable. In this book, Michael Weems baits his readers, skillfully sets the hook and plays the tension just right while he reels in his catch.
I'm reserving the remainder of my comments because this is a book I intend to review more thoroughly on my blog.
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July 19, 201207/18/2012
Kirkus Reviews reviewed Ghosts. I thought it was pretty decent considering how tough they're known to be.
From Kirkus Reviews
At 87, Solomon "Sol" Mayfield is taken on an otherworldly journey to discover what really happened to his family. Sol has been able to see ghosts ever since his mother and sister mysteriously disappeared when he was a child. When he dies in a nursing home in the second chapter of the novel, it's only the beginning of his story. He's reunited with his sister, Sarah, who reveals family secrets he was never able to learn while he was alive. The novel flashes back to 1909, when Sol was 12 and Sarah was 13. The day after Sarah's birthday, Sol wakes up to find that his mother and sister are gone. Many in their small town of Varner Creek, Texas, assume that Sol's mother, Annie, had finally had enough of his abusive father, Abram; others suspect foul play. Abram blamed Annie for Sarah's Down syndrome and for trapping him in a small town by becoming pregnant at 14. Sent to live with his Aunt Emma and Uncle Colby, Sol is visited one night by what appears to be Sarah's ghost. Is his sister dead? If so, who killed her? And what about their mother? Sol sets out to find the answers, some of which are not revealed until decades later. Weems' story unfurls slowly, at a pace that feels
consistent with life in a small Texas town. He has an impressive knack for dialect, and regional accents and idioms help bring the characters into vivid relief. Also, Sol's self-deprecation and world-weary charm make him an instantly likable narrator. While it's easy to get pulled into his story, the narrative sags a bit in the middle when the reader is given a thorough history of how Sol's parents met, which doesn't feel entirely necessary to the main story. When the final mystery is unveiled, however, the solution is sufficiently unexpected if not completely shocking.
A well-crafted balance of history and supernatural mystery.
-Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews reviewed Ghosts. I thought it was pretty decent considering how tough they're known to be.
From Kirkus Reviews
At 87, Solomon "Sol" Mayfield is taken on an otherworldly journey to discover what really happened to his family. Sol has been able to see ghosts ever since his mother and sister mysteriously disappeared when he was a child. When he dies in a nursing home in the second chapter of the novel, it's only the beginning of his story. He's reunited with his sister, Sarah, who reveals family secrets he was never able to learn while he was alive. The novel flashes back to 1909, when Sol was 12 and Sarah was 13. The day after Sarah's birthday, Sol wakes up to find that his mother and sister are gone. Many in their small town of Varner Creek, Texas, assume that Sol's mother, Annie, had finally had enough of his abusive father, Abram; others suspect foul play. Abram blamed Annie for Sarah's Down syndrome and for trapping him in a small town by becoming pregnant at 14. Sent to live with his Aunt Emma and Uncle Colby, Sol is visited one night by what appears to be Sarah's ghost. Is his sister dead? If so, who killed her? And what about their mother? Sol sets out to find the answers, some of which are not revealed until decades later. Weems' story unfurls slowly, at a pace that feels
consistent with life in a small Texas town. He has an impressive knack for dialect, and regional accents and idioms help bring the characters into vivid relief. Also, Sol's self-deprecation and world-weary charm make him an instantly likable narrator. While it's easy to get pulled into his story, the narrative sags a bit in the middle when the reader is given a thorough history of how Sol's parents met, which doesn't feel entirely necessary to the main story. When the final mystery is unveiled, however, the solution is sufficiently unexpected if not completely shocking.
A well-crafted balance of history and supernatural mystery.
-Kirkus Reviews
January 26, 2012
Maybe it's because I was reading it in the middle of the night in the dark, but the scene with the ghost in the hotel room really, really freaked me out. Serves me right for staying up late and reading on the kindle app on my phone. However, this is not really a ghost story; rather, it's the story of a man, Soloman, who can see, but not talk to, the spirits of the departed. The story begins with Soloman as an old man in a nursing home, but doesn't really get going until (spoilers!) he dies and encounters the spirit of his sister who disappeared along with his mother 75 years before. From here the narrative rolls back into Soloman's childhood, where he must confront the ghosts, both literal and figurative, of his past and discover what really happened the morning his mother and sister disappeared. It's not a very happy story, but its well written and the reader shares the characters' sense of closure when all is said and done. Definitely a decent enough kindle freebie.
February 7, 2012
I had added the following review to Amazon, but wanted to include the same review in Goodreads:
"This was an excellent read. Normally, I don't read books reflective of this time period in Americana history; however, this book was wonderful, well-written, and beautifully executed. It is a good old-fashioned mystery book teetering on the edge of paranormal. Your heart breaks for all characters, in particular, Annie, the missing matriarch.
I will definitely look for more stories by this author."
Days later, I'm still thinking about this book and have started to look for books based on that time period. Michael Weems had done such a great job with depicting a rural landscape prior to communication technologies (excluding the telegram, of course), that it really enhanced the feelings of isolation and the resulting surge of fear and resignation that would likely occur.
It's 0.99 cents on Amazon, but really, it's worth so much more. Go read it!
"This was an excellent read. Normally, I don't read books reflective of this time period in Americana history; however, this book was wonderful, well-written, and beautifully executed. It is a good old-fashioned mystery book teetering on the edge of paranormal. Your heart breaks for all characters, in particular, Annie, the missing matriarch.
I will definitely look for more stories by this author."
Days later, I'm still thinking about this book and have started to look for books based on that time period. Michael Weems had done such a great job with depicting a rural landscape prior to communication technologies (excluding the telegram, of course), that it really enhanced the feelings of isolation and the resulting surge of fear and resignation that would likely occur.
It's 0.99 cents on Amazon, but really, it's worth so much more. Go read it!
January 29, 2012
I'm not the greatest at writing reviews but I will say if your eyes do not fill up with tears at least once you just have no soul inside you.
October 29, 2011
A mystery, told in the first person by the wonderfully authentic voice of an elderly gentleman in a Texas nursing home, this story is a thorough unraveling of the horrific childhood that has haunted him throughout his life. Brutal and sometimes too coarse for this reader, I couldn't help but love Sol and wonder how he lived his life in the interim time between the end of his flashbacks and his last day on earth. Since the story is set in southeast Texas, where I live, I couldn't help but recognize the voice of Sol.
However, I give this book only three stars because I found the first person voice a little confusing when Sol was telling the story in flashback and he was able to tell intricate details of what was said and done by others in the story when he was not present and when he could not have heard the story from anyone else. Later in the book when he is transported via the memories of his sister, I understand that he was present and viewing the situation in person, but throughout the longest part of the book, it just didn't make sense that he was telling the story since he was not present. Still, I loved his voice so much that I was willing to overlook that glaring problem. There are editing errors that are frustrating, and theological issues, too, but the deal-breaker for me was the two times the book joltingly became R rated. I'm not talking about the graphic and gory details that were necessary for the telling of the story, but a couple of descriptive scenes that I wish I hadn't read. I'm not sure why the author found these kinds of descriptions necessary in what could otherwise be a difficult, but powerful story.
Still, this author truly found the voice of a rural Texan who was raised in the last century. I've known many friends and family members who sounded exactly like him. And what a complex tale of a fractured family.
However, I give this book only three stars because I found the first person voice a little confusing when Sol was telling the story in flashback and he was able to tell intricate details of what was said and done by others in the story when he was not present and when he could not have heard the story from anyone else. Later in the book when he is transported via the memories of his sister, I understand that he was present and viewing the situation in person, but throughout the longest part of the book, it just didn't make sense that he was telling the story since he was not present. Still, I loved his voice so much that I was willing to overlook that glaring problem. There are editing errors that are frustrating, and theological issues, too, but the deal-breaker for me was the two times the book joltingly became R rated. I'm not talking about the graphic and gory details that were necessary for the telling of the story, but a couple of descriptive scenes that I wish I hadn't read. I'm not sure why the author found these kinds of descriptions necessary in what could otherwise be a difficult, but powerful story.
Still, this author truly found the voice of a rural Texan who was raised in the last century. I've known many friends and family members who sounded exactly like him. And what a complex tale of a fractured family.
August 12, 2013
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Rape, abuse (physical/verbal/sexual)
Factored into the rating in order of importance: 1)Story pacing, 2)flow of narrative, 3)somewhat overly detailed background information, 4)excuses provided for those who didn't/wouldn't help one of the victims.
I had a very difficult time staying with this book. It started off steady and strong and clever, then it skipped back in time. This flashback was fine, it's exposition. But then it skipped further back in time. Then a little more. It was an awkward way to tell a story really slowed up the reading and took away from the overall narrative.
The narrative gets quite heavy in the middle, going into more background detail than necessary and , in my opinion, during the initial sexual abuse and rape scene.
It ticked me off that the narrator kept excusing all the characters who 'missed' the signs that one of the victims really needed help, support, and saving. "Oh, you couldn't have known." Um, yes, yes the could have and did. They began to recognize it well before it was too late and they didn't do enough about it. Neither did the victim. Not a blame, just a fact. Let them own up to their mistakes - don't excuse them.
(I did my best to skip over the sexual pressures, pressured sex acts, unnecessary descriptions of the abuser rubbing himself, and finally the rape as these subjects are quite a trigger for me, but it went on for longer than I expected. Not a huge detractor for most readers and this is not in the equation of my rating, just a comment to warn those with triggers.)
Factored into the rating in order of importance: 1)Story pacing, 2)flow of narrative, 3)somewhat overly detailed background information, 4)excuses provided for those who didn't/wouldn't help one of the victims.
I had a very difficult time staying with this book. It started off steady and strong and clever, then it skipped back in time. This flashback was fine, it's exposition. But then it skipped further back in time. Then a little more. It was an awkward way to tell a story really slowed up the reading and took away from the overall narrative.
The narrative gets quite heavy in the middle, going into more background detail than necessary and , in my opinion, during the initial sexual abuse and rape scene.
It ticked me off that the narrator kept excusing all the characters who 'missed' the signs that one of the victims really needed help, support, and saving. "Oh, you couldn't have known." Um, yes, yes the could have and did. They began to recognize it well before it was too late and they didn't do enough about it. Neither did the victim. Not a blame, just a fact. Let them own up to their mistakes - don't excuse them.
(I did my best to skip over the sexual pressures, pressured sex acts, unnecessary descriptions of the abuser rubbing himself, and finally the rape as these subjects are quite a trigger for me, but it went on for longer than I expected. Not a huge detractor for most readers and this is not in the equation of my rating, just a comment to warn those with triggers.)
April 17, 2012
I recently purchased a kindle fire, and this was a free book to download...it looked scary and supernatural which I sometimes enjoy, so I went ahead and downloaded it. I have to tell you, this is not what I expected. It wasn't supernatural in an unbelievable way. It was not based on a true story, but the story itself sounded so true and genuine. The story it tells is very intense. There were a couple of light moments that literally made me laugh out loud, but it had a very dreary tale. It's a very intense, emotional story that takes place at the turn of the century (around 1900) in eastern Texas. It brought up a lot of issues, specifically how women were viewed during one of the most intense eras of the "Bible Belt" development. Although, this book is not geared just toward women. To me, it was a really good mystery type of story. I highly recommend if you want to read something different, but intense. Would like to discover more about this author. This is the first book I've read by him.
September 30, 2012
A very well-crafted book! Reads part murder mystery, part historical novel (early 1900s small town Texas), part supernatural (see the title), but completely captivating. The book has characters who will all completely captivate you--not one character will leave you feeling indifferent. A great read from start-to-finish and highly recommended to adult readers (some mature themes and language).
When I downloaded this book for my Kindle, free from Amazon at the time, I wasn't certain of what to expect in terms of quality writing. However, cheap--in my case--turned out to be a blessing in disguise! Michael is a wonderful storyteller who seems to know his craft well. The ebook has a preview to his novel, "Border Crossings," another crime story set in Texas. I'm looking forward to reading this one as well.
When I downloaded this book for my Kindle, free from Amazon at the time, I wasn't certain of what to expect in terms of quality writing. However, cheap--in my case--turned out to be a blessing in disguise! Michael is a wonderful storyteller who seems to know his craft well. The ebook has a preview to his novel, "Border Crossings," another crime story set in Texas. I'm looking forward to reading this one as well.
October 2, 2012
I had to stay up tonight to finish this, and I'm still crying! This is instantly one of my favorite books. It had moments that caused me to sweat, instances where I laughed hysterically, and then there were shocking revelations to where I just had to sit and cry for these characters. This is a story about a man who has a special gift, the ability to see ghosts. This is not what the story is about though; it is about all the moments of his life, what caused him to gain this amazing ability, and about his family, and the shocking truth to why he ended up the way he was. Sol is an unforgettable character that illuminated a gentle and kind soul despite his immense hardships, and you really love him like he's one of your kin by the end of his story. I miss him already... :(
January 27, 2012
The story opens with Sol living his last days in a nursing home, sharing reflections of his life and his frustrations of the ageing process. When he crosses the Great Divide, he begins to unravel the past which was his life, the secrets and the truth of what had transpired on his journey. Excellent job, Michael Weems!
July 29, 2012
Had some good suspenseful parts, but other parts were a little too spiritual-esque for me. The parts when you were reading about what actually happened to the characters were pretty good but other parts of the book were a little too far fetched. Can't really say too much without giving details away.
So wasn't awful but wasn't great. A good Quick read if your looking for something easy
September 24, 2014
Suspenseful read
Keep me turning pages long into the night. The book was down and dirty with interesting characters. I wouldn't need to read it again because the plot and characters are burned into my thoughts.
Keep me turning pages long into the night. The book was down and dirty with interesting characters. I wouldn't need to read it again because the plot and characters are burned into my thoughts.
February 6, 2021
Supernatural story which ends up being a tear jerker at the end. Sol is in a senior nursing home, and the ghosts of the dead can be rather annoying, especially when all he wants is to be left alone. Sol begins remembering the first time he encountered a ghost; a man who committed suicide in the hotel room Sol is in. He describes the rollercoaster ride the ghost's emotions does to a living being, and Sol wouldn't be surprised if there are many suicides, that occur throughout the years, in that same room
Sol dies and meets the spirit of his sister, Sarah. From there he recounts, to the reader, his life since childhood, and the many wrongs done to him, his mother and Sarah, by his father. It's the 1900s, in the South, and cotton growing and picking, is still the prime source of economy. The workers aren't always the best of men, and Sol's father creates a hell on earth for his family.
Sometimes the story does get long winded, and much of the detail paragraphs can be skimmed over, but not lose the gist of the story. The ending; well it's a beautiful vision of what could be after death.
Sol dies and meets the spirit of his sister, Sarah. From there he recounts, to the reader, his life since childhood, and the many wrongs done to him, his mother and Sarah, by his father. It's the 1900s, in the South, and cotton growing and picking, is still the prime source of economy. The workers aren't always the best of men, and Sol's father creates a hell on earth for his family.
Sometimes the story does get long winded, and much of the detail paragraphs can be skimmed over, but not lose the gist of the story. The ending; well it's a beautiful vision of what could be after death.
January 7, 2020
I really liked the authors writing style. The characters are described well so you can really get a feel for them as the book progresses. It starts with Sol at 87 but is written mostly from his perspective the year he was 12. I love to get emotionally involved with the story line but the way the story unfolds I was not able to but I read it in two sittings. I definitely wanted to find out what happened. I read a review that said they thought the book was slow and the part of how the parents met was too drawn out. I disagree with both assessments. The story of the parents meeting is crucial to the storyline so you understand why their marriage fell apart. The story builds with each revelation up to Sols death. I felt it was very true to life and explains how good people end up with bad partners. It was a satisfying read and I will look for more by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2021
In the summer of 1909, Solomon Mayfield awoke to find his mother and sister had disappeared. Left with his alcoholic and abusive father, Sol lived his life believing the story he'd been told, the story all the people of Varner Creek believed about what happened that summer. But in a plot of twists and family secrets that will leave the reader reaching for their jaw upon the floor, Sol is taken back to his childhood by the spirits he knew in life when he passes away so many years later . . . it is only then he learns what secrets The Ghosts of Varner Creek have been keeping so many years Thought provoking. Not your general ghost story. I would have given this a 4star but the misspellings and format errors were very distracting.
March 24, 2018
When I first started this book I was not expecting what it turned out to be. You discover an older man with the ability to see ghost and haunting. He is able to share emotions with them. He explains all of this in the beginning of the book so I don't feel like its a "Spoiler". You go back in time to learn more about his story and how all this came about. I really enjoyed this book. I thought the characters were well thought out and interesting. You got a good feel for the time frame and the community that this story takes place in. The author is descriptive without going overboard. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quicker and engaging read.
January 8, 2024
Well this was a great first read for 2024. The first half of the novel was good and I enjoyed it, but the second half is when The Ghosts of Varner Creek really kicked into high gear. I loved the mischief that Sol and George get into, especially with Lucifer The Leghorn. The characters are deep and well-written and of course, that ending is devastating. I knew who had done the killing (it was the only explanation that made sense), but I didn’t know why. The sickening truth hits like a freight train when it’s finally revealed. This novel manages to combine a coming-of-age story, a ghost story and a mystery into one effective ride.
June 24, 2018
A Must Read!
This little sleeper started out "meh" but somehow had me engrossed by about 20% in. So engrossed, I didn't sleep and spent the night devouring it until the beautiful, bitter end. Amazing work. It's just the way a story should be told. Hitting the highlights, skipping the mundane. The Ghosts of Varner Creek is one I'll be recommending for years to come. If you enjoyed "A Man Called Ove" or "The Snow Child" (both unforgettable reads) you owe it to yourself to add this tome to that impressive list.
This little sleeper started out "meh" but somehow had me engrossed by about 20% in. So engrossed, I didn't sleep and spent the night devouring it until the beautiful, bitter end. Amazing work. It's just the way a story should be told. Hitting the highlights, skipping the mundane. The Ghosts of Varner Creek is one I'll be recommending for years to come. If you enjoyed "A Man Called Ove" or "The Snow Child" (both unforgettable reads) you owe it to yourself to add this tome to that impressive list.
October 25, 2023
I have tried reading this book three times. It starts off slow and as you read the book it gently ramps up. Situated back in the early 1900’s you get the feel of how simple yet hard working a wife’s job was. The love of her children and family and the role of the older brother was portrayed brilliantly. Michael Weems you wrote a wonderful suspenseful book. I laughed, I cried, my heart went out to this family in more ways than one. I loved this book and can’t wait to start on your next.
December 15, 2023
Rollercoaster Ride
I missed the warnings that this was not a paranormal book so initially I was disappointed. It's definitely the darkest of humanity written on these pages full of DV, child abuse, sexual assault and women being trapped by society's rules. It's not light hearted but it sucked in me in and I was eager to know the outcome for each character which in my opinion, is the hallmark of a great story teller.
I missed the warnings that this was not a paranormal book so initially I was disappointed. It's definitely the darkest of humanity written on these pages full of DV, child abuse, sexual assault and women being trapped by society's rules. It's not light hearted but it sucked in me in and I was eager to know the outcome for each character which in my opinion, is the hallmark of a great story teller.
October 17, 2018
now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.
i would highly recommend this author and this book.
August 28, 2019
After his sister died, Sol accepted that he could now see ghosts.
After Sarah's birthday party, she and her mother Annie disappeared and everyone suspected the drunken, wife beating father. When Sarah appears to Sol, not long after her disappearance, it leads to the discovery of what did happen to her. When Sol dies, he reconnects with Sarah and the true horror of what happened is revealed
After Sarah's birthday party, she and her mother Annie disappeared and everyone suspected the drunken, wife beating father. When Sarah appears to Sol, not long after her disappearance, it leads to the discovery of what did happen to her. When Sol dies, he reconnects with Sarah and the true horror of what happened is revealed
February 11, 2021
Not what you think
I love scary books. This definitely wasn't one. But, it was a great book. More of a trip down memory lane for a dying man with mystery and childhood trauma. Oh and a few ghosts here and there. The book had quite a few grammar mistakes though. Whoever proofread it, sucked.
I love scary books. This definitely wasn't one. But, it was a great book. More of a trip down memory lane for a dying man with mystery and childhood trauma. Oh and a few ghosts here and there. The book had quite a few grammar mistakes though. Whoever proofread it, sucked.
April 5, 2021
Poignant Tale
So many emotions ran through me as I read this tale. All families have secrets, some darker than others. The Ghosts of Varner Creek is about ice and death, love and hate and so much more. The fragility and strength of the human mind, body, and soul. A poignant tale about people.
So many emotions ran through me as I read this tale. All families have secrets, some darker than others. The Ghosts of Varner Creek is about ice and death, love and hate and so much more. The fragility and strength of the human mind, body, and soul. A poignant tale about people.
May 31, 2022
I didn't know where this book was going to go. The "journey" was interesting, vividly descriptive and a bit heart-wrenching ... All of this even before the ending. I found it well-written, the characters (especially the main character, voicing the story) to be believable and I couldn't have put it down without finishing for anything!
March 17, 2020
I enjoyed the twists and turns in this book. It had a surprise solution and a bittersweet ending. However, there were
some typos and punctuation errors so the author did need a professional editor. If not for that, I would have given it 4 stars.
April 17, 2013
some typos and punctuation errors so the author did need a professional editor. If not for that, I would have given it 4 stars.
April 17, 2013
July 9, 2020
This is a great mix of mystery and paranormal. I was born and raised (and still live in) the area in which this book is set. I'm 40 miles from Houston. This author did a great job of capturing the dialect and speech patterns of the area! I'll read more of his work...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews